Cairns 1954

Cairns Mocyc, British auxiliary engine from 1954. Manufactured by Cairns Cycle and Accessory Mfg. Co. Ltd., Stoneswood, Todmorden, Lancs. This 49cc clip-on engine was first announced by the Motor Cycle in 1951 and the production was continued to 1956. Its predecessor was a cyclemotor attachment engine made by GYS Engineering Co. Cairns bought the license for GYS engine in 1949, but for first two years the previous owner kept some rights to the marque and in this time the engine was not marketed under Cairns name yet.

"The Mocyc’s 49cc light-alloy two-stroke engine drives the front tyre through a carborundum coated roller. The makers claimed up to 22.5 mph and they marketed an auxiliary petroil tank with a capacity of two pints to clip onto the cycle frame. The Mocyc’s ordinary tank held half a gallon. The engine fitted any cycle and the roller could be lifted clear of the tyre at any time. When new these engines sold for £24.30p" (from buyvintage1.wordpress.com)